Clamping device



July 6, 1954 P. E. K EMPKES CLAMPING DEVICE' '3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. 27 1951 1. 1. IIISYI 34a/wrap P/QUL E.. 'KEMPKES las?. Ew

P. E. KEMPKES CLAMPING DEVICE July 6, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed DSC. 27, 1951 Will/470@ #a/L 5 MEMPKES mmm July 6, 1954 P. E. KEMPKES 2,682,694

CLAMPING DEVICE Filed Dec. 27, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented `uly 6, 1954 UNITED STATES FATENT GFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a fastening device or clamp for fastening or clamping articles to stationary members, such as table tops or cabinet tops, and is particularly concerned with a fastening device of this nature, which is so constructed that it will accommodate readily articles to be clamped and members on which they are to be clamped of diierent sizes and shapes.

The device, according to this invention, is particularly suitable for securing small machines and appliances as are encountered in the household, such as food choppers and mills, slicing machines for slicing bread, meats, fruits, vegetables and the like. Appliances or machines of this nature can readily be secured with a clamping device according to this invention, onto a table top, a cabinet top, or any other suitable stationary supporting member.

The particular object of this invention is to provide an improved clamping device of the nature referred to, which will be rapid in operation and which will be readily adjustable to meet varying circumstances, and which can be easily adjusted between clamping and unclamping positions.

According to this invention, the clamping device comprises two j aw members between which is gripped the article, machine or appliance to be held and the table top or the like on which it is to be secured.

According to one form of the invention, the

jaws are spring pressed toward their clamping position, and according to another form, the jaws ,are spring pressed toward their open position and are positively moved to their clamping position. Preferably, the movement of the jaws in the direction opposite to that which they are biased by the spring is accomplished by a lever actuated cam so that a single movement of the lever is all that is required to move the jaws between their open and closed positions.

The device of this invention is preferably arranged so that one of the jaws has integral therewith a, frame or housing which serves to house the pressure spring that acts upon the jaws. A pin or plunger extends through the housing and spring and adjustably receives the other jaw. The said other jaw can be adjustably arranged to slide on the pin or plunger and a nut threaded on the pin or plunger serves to position the said other jaw at the proper place along the plunger.

According to the present invention, there may be arranged on the pin a lever arm connected therewith, as by a pivot, which operates between the pin or plunger to hold said plunger in a position where the jaws are open, whereby movement of the lever in the other direction will again release the jaws to be pressed together by the spring.

The exact nature of this invention and other objects and advantages thereof will be more clearly apparent upon reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a fastening or clamping device constructed according to this invention;

Figure 2 shows the device of Figure 1 from the side and partly in section, as indicated by line A-B on Figure l;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken through the device of Figures 1 and 2, as indicated by line C-D on Figure 2;

Figure 4 shows the device of Figures 1 and 2y adjusted to its open position;

Figure 5 is a side view showing a clamping device according to this invention, with the upper jaw formed with a hook portion to engage a pin; Figure 6 is a plan view looking down on top of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a view like Figure 5, but showing still another form which the upper jaw can take;

Figure 8 is a plan View looking down on top of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a View like Figure 5, but shows the upper jaw of the device pivotally connected with the base of the appliance or machine which it is to hold;

Figure 10 is a plan view looking down on top of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a view like Figure 9, but showing the upper jaw of the device formed as an integral part of the appliance or machine that is to be held;

Figure 12 is a plan view looking down on top of Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a View showing a still further modied form of the device;

Figure 14. is still another form which the clamping device of this invention can take;

Figure 15 is a view similar to Figure 2, but shows a modified arrangement of the dev-ice characterized by an arrangement where the jaws are positively moved toward their clamping position;

`Figure 16 is a view similar to Figure 2, but showing a modification of the clamping device where the jaws are sprung toward their open position and are positively moved to their clamping position;

Figure 17 shows still another modied form of @he clamping device; and

Figure i8 shows a still further modiilcation of the device.

Referring to the drawings somewhat more in detail, the fastening device or clamping device of Figures 1 through 4 comprises an upper jaw l and a lower jaw 2. One of the jaws, such ais the upper jaw i, has a housing-like part 3 integral therewith through which a pin or plunger 4 passes. In the said housing there is also a spring 5 which bears at the top against a plate 6 connected with the pin il, or against a hea-d formed on the pin, and at the bottom of the housing, bears against a Shoulder or collar 'i rmly connected with the housing 3 or integral therewith,

At the bottom of the housing 3, the pin fl has pivoted thereto, as by the pivot pin 8, a lever arm 9 which has protruding cam surfaces on its upper end engaging the recessed cam receiving surfaces or grooved guide means i@ on the underneath side of the lower end of housing 3. Below pivot pin li, the pin or plunger d is provided with screw threads H and on this portion of the pin or plunger, the bottom jaw 2 is freely movable. For clamping the lower jaw 2 in any desired position of adjustment along the pin or plunger 4, there is provided the threaded nut i2 threaded on the portion il of the pin or plunger li.

For securing an appliance or the like to a table top, the said appliance is positioned with its base plate i3v at the edge of the table top is as illustrated in Figure 2. Thereupon the fastening device is opened by moving lever arm Si to the position it occupies in Figure 4, so that the jaws l and 2 will be opened wide enough to permit the clamp to be placed over base plate i3 and table top i4.

At this time the nut l2 may be threaded upe wardly on pin or plunger 4 until lower jaw 2 approaches close to, or is actually resting against the underneath surface of table top Hl. Lever 9 is then moved downwardly, as indicated by the arrow in Figure 4, to its Figure 2 position and this permits spring 5 to draw the jaws i and 2 tightly together.

As will be seen in Figure 2, dimension a from the center of pivot pin 8 to the top of the cam surface on the end of lever arm 9, is small er than dimension b extending laterally to surface i6 of the head of the lever arm. rlhis arrangement results in the cam action described above, and by means of which the compression spring 5 serves to clamp the jaws tightly together and thereby firmly to hold the appliance or mae chine in position.

As will be seen in Figure 3, pin or plunger ii is preferably formed with a flat on one side and the bar that receives the pin or plunger l is also formed with a nat and thereby the jaw 2 is held in a pre-determined position of orientation rela tive to the pin or plunger. At the same time, the grooved arrangement at the head of lever arm 9 which engages matched grooves in the lower end of housing 3, serves to hold the housing 3 and the jaw l connected therewith in the same plane as jaw 2.

In Figures 5 and 6, the reference numeral l? designates a table top or similar member and on which a plate or other member i8 is placed to be secured thereto. According to this modication, the plate or member I8 is provided with an opening or recess i9 across which extends a pin 20. The housing 2t which encloses the compression spring of the clamp is provided with an upper jaw 22, which, in this modification, takes the form of a hook 23 at its outer end engaging over the pin 20. It will be apparent that the operation of the device in Figures 5 and 6 is the same as the one described in connection with Figures 1 through 4.

In Figures 7 and 8 an arrangement somewhat similar to that demonstrated in Figures 5 and 6 is shown and like reference numerals are employed for similar parts. The essential diierence between what is shown in Figures 7 and 8 and what is shown in Figures 5 and 6 is that the upper jaw in the clamping device comprises a pin-like member 24, which is introduced into a bore 25 of the base plate of the device to be secured, The upper jaw member of the clamping device can also be provided with a widened portion 26 as indicated by the dot-dash outline in Figure 8, and from which there may extend further pin members 2'1' or 28 to engage correspending bores in the plate or member i8.

In Figures 9 and 10 there is shown an arrangement where the clamping spring housing 2i is provided with a lateral extension 29 which is pivote-ily connected by means of a bolt 3G with a fork 32 integral with the base or housing 3i of the appliance to be held fast.

As will be seen in Figure 10, bolt 3) can be provided with a wing nut 35 threaded thereon so that the clamping device can be removed from the appliance if desired, and also, so that the wing nut can be drawn up on bolt 3G and thereby fasten the clamping device rigidly to the appliance.

In Figures 11 and 12 the spring housing 2i of the clamping device is formed as an integral part of the applianceby means of an arm 32 which connects with the frame 33 of the appliance to be held fast. If desired, the arm can include a stiifening rib 3G. The underneath side of the arm may be provided with additional thickness at 35 to provide for reinforcement, and there may also be provided the resilient pad 3S which Inlay consist, for example, of rubber.

In Figure 13, the upper jaw 3l of the clamping device, which is rigidly connected with the spring housing ifand the lower jaw 33 of the clamping device, are both provided with elastic pressure members 3s and lil so that there is no chance of the clamping jaws damaging any of the surfaces which they engage.

In Figure 14 the spring housing 2l of the clamping device is provided with a revolving upper ring 4i mounted thereon and from which extend the diierently shaped jaws d2 and d3. Rotation of ring di can bring the desired one of the projecting jaws into eiiective position. The several jaws need not be of the same length and can be of any shape desired. Thus, jaw 42 can be developed as rectangular, square or circular, or in the form of a plate, and if desired, a suction disc can be applied thereto, as indicated at M. In the arrangement shown in Figure 14, the clamping device merely engages the table top I4, while the object to be held, for example, a container d5, is placed on the suction disc fia and is held thereto in a manner known in connection with suction discs.

In Figure l5 there is illustratedv a modied arrangement of the clamping device, wherein the jaws are positively moved toward each other and are spring urged toward their open position. In this view the spring housing of the clamping device is designated 46 and pressure spring therein is designated as 41. The housing 46 is provided with a lateral arm 48 on which a pressure member B is pivoted by a pin 49'; The pressure member 50 can be arranged to rest directly on the article to be clamped or may be covered with a member 5l, of rubber, felt or the like. The pressure member 50 can also be connected directly with the article to be clamped, as by screwing it thereto.

In the Figure l5 arrangement the operation of the device is as follows:

The pressure clamps spindle or plunger 52 projects out through the top of spring housing 36 and is provided with a head 53. Housing d6 com prises the upwardly projecting parts 55 and thereto is pivoted, as by pivot pin 55, a cam 5i adapted for actuation by lever 56.

When the cam 51 is in the position illustrate in Figure 15, the spindle 52 is urged into its uppermost position, and this serves to draw the jaws together and to clamp therebetween the table top and the member to be made fast thereto. Ii the lever 55 is moved upwardly in the direction indicated by the arrow thereon, the spring is released and this serves to move the jaws apart and to release the clamped member. In Figure 16 the same reference numerals are `employed as are used in connection with Figure are employed to designate like parts and in this e form of the clamping device, the spring housing 46 is open at one end to admit the head 53 of the spindle 52.

The portion of the spindle 52 immediately adjacent spring housing at the closed side thereof has pivoted thereto, as by the pivot 59, the eccentric discs 55 and 5l. These discs are adapted for being revolved by the handle 52 in the manner that will best be seen in Figure 18.

In Figure 18 the smallest radius of the eocentric discs is adjacent the housing 46 so that the spring 41 is effected for axially moving spindle 52 thereby to draw the jaws together in clamping relation. Upon movement of lever 62 to move g eccentric discs greatest radius into engagement with housing 46, the said spring 51' is compressed and the jaws are moved apart.

In Figure 18 the same clamping device is illustrated that is shown in Figure 17, except that the clamp is reversed and the lower jaw 5d of Figure 17 becomes the upper jaw in Figure 18, and with this saidjaw rigidly secured to the base member of the device which is to be clampedy fast.

It will be apparent that a great many changes can be effected in the structure of the clamping device in this invention without departing from the inventive thought thereof. For example, the size and form of the clamping jaws can be changed at will in order to adapt the clamp to particular circumstances, as may be required by the nature and shape of the objects or articles to be clamped fast. The closed spring housing illustrated is not an absolute necessity, but is of advantage in protecting the pressure spring and in making the device easy to clean and operate.

The device according to this invention is easy to disassemble so that it can be taken apart without-"difliculty for fthe cleaning of the parts or for the exchange 'or replacement thereof."

It willbe understood that this invention is susceptible to modification in order to adapt it to different usages and conditions, and, accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifdcations within this invention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

l. In a clamping device of the nature described; a nrst and a second jaw adapted for gripping articles therebetween, said first jaw having a housing attached thereto, said housing having `spaced recessed cam surfaces on one end thereof, an elongated pin slidably extending through said housing and having said second jaw mounted at -one end thereof, an abutment on the opposite end of said pin, a spring in said housing bearing between the housing and said abutment on the pin for moving the jaws together on the pin, a bifurcated lever pivoted to said pin between said housing and said second jaw, a protruding cam surface on each of the bifurcations for engaging said spaced cam surfaces on said housing whereby upon movement of said lever said rst jaw is moved relative to said second jaw and against the action of said spring.

2. In a clamping device of the nature described; an upper and a lower jaw adapted for gripping articles therebetween, said upper jawY having a housing attached thereto, an elongated vertically positioned pin extending through said housing and having said lower jaw mounted at the lower end thereof, said lower jaw having a gripping portion and a connecting shank, said shank having an opening therein for receiving said pin, mating ilat surfaces on the circumference of said opening and said pin providing non-rotative sliding movement of said lower jaw. on the pin, said pin being threaded and a nut being threadedly received therein beneath said jaw for retaining said jaw in a plurality of selected positions on said pin, an abutment on the opposite end of said pin, a spring in said housing bearing between the housing and the said abutment on the pin for inovinT the jaws together on the pin, a biurcated lever pivoted to said pin between said housing and said lower jaw, guide means on said housing, a cam surface on each of the bifurcations engaging into the guide means on said housing whereby said cams are operable to move said upper jaw vertically on said pin against the action of said spring.

3. In a clamping device of the nature described; a first and a second jaw adapted for gripping articles therebetween, said rst jaw having a housing attached thereto, said housing having cam surfaces on one end thereof, an elongated pin slidably extending through said housing and having said second jaw mounted at one end thereof, means for non-rotatively sliding said second jaw on said pin and means for retaining said second jaw in a plurality of selected positions on said pin, an abutment on the other end of said pin, a spring in said housing bearing between the housing and said abutment on the pin for moving the jaws together on the pin, a bifurcated lever pivoted'to said pin between said housing and second jaw, a cam surface on each of the bifurcations for engaging into the cam surfaces on said housing whereby upon movement of said lever said first jaw is moved relative to said second jaw and against the action of said spring, said cam surfaces together With said non-rotative sliding means being operable to maintain said jaws in alignment on said pin.

4. In a clamping device of the nature described; a first and a second jaw adapted for gripping artioies therebetween, said rst jaw having a housing attached thereto, said housing having cam surfaces on one end thereof, an elongated pin slide-bly extending through said housing and having said second jaw mounted at one end thereof.

means for non-rotatively sliding said second jaw 10 on said pin and means for retaining said second jaw in a plurality of selected positions on said pin, an abutment on the other end of said pin, a spring in said housing bearing between the housing and said abutment on the pin for moving the jaws together on the pin, a lever pivoted to said pin between said housing and said second jaw, cam means on said lever for engaging the cam surfaces on said housing whereby upon movement of said lever said rst jaw is moved relative to said second 4jaw and against the action of said spring, said cam surfaces together with said nonrotative sliding means being operable to maintain 5 said `iaws in alignment on said pin.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 202,704 Clark Apr. 23, 1878 576,824 Reynolds Feb. 9, 1897 785,432 Perkins Mar. 21, 1905 829,118 Meek Aug. 21, 1906 15 1,049,642 Baesel Jan. 7, 1913 1,091,185 Bossier Mar. 24, 1914 1,944,603 Hecker Jan. 23, 1934 2,319,377 Wallace May 18, 1943 2,343,699 Petersen Mar. 7, 1944 

